Karnataka Fire Brigade

Bangalore, India

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In May 2005, I had the opportunity to take a two-week business trip to India. I spent most of my time in the city of Bangalore, which is in Karnataka state. As luck would have it, there was a fire station and training center on Bannerghatta Road, just two minutes away from the Cisco office building where I was working.
On Friday 5/20, I stopped in for a visit. The firefighters were very accommodating, and invited me to take photos around their station. The station officer spoke English, and was gracious enough to answer my gazillion questions. There are 13 fire stations within the city of Bangalore. They run a total of over 700 calls per year, with this particular house accounting for over 100 of those. This station has three 24-hour shifts, each with 25 firefighters. They leave the house with six on a rig! In addition to fire incidents, they also handle medical calls and run their own ambulance.
Right next door to the station is the Karnataka Fire & Emergency Services Academy, which was constructed in the late 1960's. Commandant Ganga Huchaiah greeted us there - and gave a personal tour of his training facility! In addition to the rookie academy, continuing education and officer training, they also handle industrial emergency response training as well as public fire education.

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A typical fire truck	Typical ambulance	I imagine it is quite a challenge to maneuver these apparatus through the insane traffic in this city.
	Waiting for some action	Just hanging around!
Smile, you're on my web site!	Main entrance to the training center	In their model room, the Commandant showed the props they use for public fire education. This looks familiar!
This model of a typical LP gas storage tank is used for industry training	Another model showing the deluge system	They use Drager SCBA
More training props	Portable fire extinguisher training	This model demonstrates the proper placement of alarm system components. They also have a code enforcement and inspection system for commercial occupancies.
This 1925 Dennis pumper was one of the first two apparatus that was delivered to Karnataka state. It still runs in parades, but with gas mileage at 1 km/L (about 6 mi/gal), and with gasoline costing 45 Rps/L (over $4/gal!) - it doesn't get out too much anymore.	The classroom	Commandant Ganga Huchaiah (left) and one of his officers
They do not have the opportunity to do live burn training in structures. Instead they have fire demonstrations using pallettes like these.	Additional apparatus at the training center	A closer look
The truck on the left is a 101' aerial that was manufactured in England	Aerial stick	A closer look at the Leyland
They had just taken delivery on these portal CAFS extinguishers manufactured by a company called Advanced Firefighting Technology (AFT) based in Georgsmarienhutte, Germany, and were working to put them in service. The AFT trolley systems hold 50L of extinguishing agent and boast a range of up to 18m.	The backpack model - I think these units hold 9L of extinguishing agent.	Firefighting apparatus much better suited for the traffic and road conditions in this city. These have been fitted with mounts for the extinguishers. Now THIS would make for some fun driver training!
I think this was one of their older pieces	Training tower	Their apparatus don't quite fit in the bays - but I guess that is not a problem when you can have an open-air fire station!